The IoD started the year by exploring Guernsey’s historical resilience and economic reinventions to inspire business leaders and politicians to consider the island’s next phase of growth.
Andrew Doyle, author of Reinvention Island, was the keynote speaker at the IoD’s Spring Breakfast and explored Guernsey’s economic history, tracing a pattern of reinvention through industries including wool, shipbuilding, granite, tomatoes, and finance; each lasting between 50 and 200 years. Mr Doyle highlighted the central role of storytelling in economic identity and direction, and called for renewed collaboration, innovation, and leadership to shape its future.
Collaboration is key. The IoD, along with other leading business and charity organisations in Guernsey (collectively known as the “G8”), have continued to work together this year to drive positive change for our community. The Collective Call for Change report was produced by the G8 ahead of the June election. It was the first time so many organisations have come together to collaborate like this, and the first time such a comprehensive survey and report, representing the collective voice of Guernsey's business and charity sectors, have been produced. The report presented the views of 20 industries and 1,000 organisations, and outlined the critical issues our island faces.
With collaborative leadership, efficient decision making, and targeted policy action, Guernsey can unlock sustainable economic growth and strengthen its position as a vibrant place to live, work, and do business.
The IoD’s bi-annual Business Confidence Survey continues to play a key role in tracking the pulse of the local economy, influencing future States and IoD policies. The survey in November revealed that whilst there was little change in confidence in the prospects for Guernsey’s economy over the next 12 months, with a net reading of -12% compared to -11% in May 2025, Guernsey continues to lead comparable jurisdictions. The comparative strength of Guernsey’s confidence levels against the UK and Jersey demonstrates the underlying resilience of our business community; however, business leaders have called for decisive government leadership, better infrastructure delivery, and a pro-growth agenda to strengthen confidence and competitiveness.
The IoD hosted many different member sessions which were hugely successful and informative such as the breakfast with the Chief Minister and her vision for Guernsey, the webinar with the Innovation Board chair sharing his views on the role of innovation in fostering long-term economic resilience, the workshops on maximising the potential and value of Social Capital with Tristan Claridge, and the Leading Business Transformation session with the CEOs of Sure and Investec.
The IoD was established by Royal Charter and is charged with setting the standards for corporate governance. The IoD’s Convention in October brought together the island’s business leaders, governance experts, and the local community for a powerful discussion on corporate governance and ethics, with lessons drawn from Post Office Scandal, one of the UK’s most devastating corporate scandals, which must shape the way all boards, from large corporations to local organisations, think about leadership and accountability. Corporate governance is not just about compliance – it is about culture, values and the courage to do the right thing.
Thank you …
…to the business community for their strong support of this year’s Leadership Shadowing Scheme, which saw over 60 students participate.
…to the wonderful and engaging IoD Next Gen Forum, which is in its third year, and is all about future-proofing Guernsey’s leadership pipeline and strengthening continuity within the broader IoD community. They reached a major milestone this year, with the Next Gen Forum community growing to more than 1,000 members. Look out for the Next Gen Garden Party in 2026, something completely new and set to be their biggest and most distinctive networking event to date.
…to our amazing sponsors this year. Your support and partnership have enabled the IOD to deliver a range of impactful events and workshops for our members.
…to our members for your loyalty as we continue our work of supporting and representing you for the benefit of the economy and society at large.
This year, the IoD has really become an effective and leading influence body, a representative voice for business, through its collaborative work with the G8 organisations and our Director Survey to measure confidence and economic performance.
There is more to come in 2026. The IoD will be hosting an inaugural conference in June, focused on unlocking economic growth and shaping Guernsey’s competitive future. The IoD will bring together global decision-makers, investors, business leaders, policymakers, and regulators to lead this critical conversation on economic growth. Others see Guernsey as an attractive place to do business, and we should, too. That outside confidence is something we can, and must, build on.